From Mr A. Pace

I thank you for allowing me some space to state some plain facts I experienced last week.

On Monday morning, on my way to work via Luqa’s currently dug-up roads, I damaged my car and, since I am aware that there is not much I can do about this situation, I decided to import a car from the UK. Advanced technology providing real time information was of great help. I found the right car, contacted the owner and agreed on the price.

On Tuesday I compiled quotations for transportation and though I was surprised to discover that bringing the car over would cost more than the actual the car itself, I still decided to buy the car since the owner was very nice to me, and the car much to my liking.

On Wednesday, I again sought the help of the computer to browse through the Malta Transport Authority’s website to look for procedures and documentation required to register this vehicle. That was quite helpful, but I still had to call and ask for what really matters, namely the full and final charge I have to pay to have the car running legitimately on our messed up roads. The following facts were explained to me: registration fees amount to either 65 per cent of the estimated cost of the vehicle in Malta (no matter what the true and real price of buying it actually is), plus VAT, or Lm4,200 plus VAT – whichever is the highest!

On Thursday I was trying to figure out the date when, after becoming full members of the European Union, I would be able to buy a car from Malta for the same price it could be bought in the UK. I was dreaming about the date when my salary for my job would be equal to what my counterparts in the UK earn for a similar job. I was fantasising about the day when I could enjoy driving my car on roads comparable to those of the UK. I was eager for the date when although proud to be Maltese, I would be a European citizen as well.

On Friday I was blamed by some for my lack of knowledge with regard to what’s factually happening in my country. I was informed that Malta had already joined the EU and that I already am a European citizen. I explained that not everyone is on the ball all the time, asked them to forgive my ignorance and to explain why the price of a car in Malta is still more expensive by thousands, why my salary is still less by thousands, why our roads are still different and why should I believe that I am more of a European citizen than I have been before – as they very ably explained – Malta became a full member of the EU.

On Saturday I still had no satisfactory replies.

On Sunday, according to our religious convictions, no work should be carried out!

Well, maybe next week the clever and the honest will reply and resolve.

Anton Pace